Back to work at Bryce Canyon and feels like Fall

After 10 days off I returned to work at Bryce Canyon where the morning temperatures in the 40sF are feeling like Fall.  The closer I get to the end of this summer season the more ready I am not to work and instead learn about this next step in life called retirement.  And now that the camper is off the truck I’m lining up truck repairs.

So while I was gone from work at Bryce Canyon three inches of rain fell in two days and wiped out the Wall Street side of the Navajo Loop trail.  That’s .7 mile with a 550 foot change in elevation and from what I can see at the top, and a few photos taken by others from the bottom, it’s truly a mess the entire length.  Trail crew is working on it, but it could be a while.  Very labor intensive with picks and shovels and a motorized wagon-like earth mover for dirt and rocks.

Jct SR63 & SR12 roundabout

It rained several times the afternoon I returned to Bryce and the following day also with a high of 62°.  Was a day of spending money.  Started off ordering several general items I’d put off for a while, weather stripping, a RV sewer gate, and stainless stovetop espresso pot to replace the old aluminum one.  When did the price of chocolate soar?  I use an organic dark chocolate syrup in my morning espresso jolt along with almond syrup and heavy whipping cream.  No high fructose in any of that.  When I went to order the usual Ah!laska the price had tripled and it was out of stock everywhere.  So, I’m trying a new brand.  Later in the day I met the local mechanic in Tropic and ordered rear shocks and front brake pads for him to put on.

One more day off and awoke to 43° at 8am.  Dang, it’s feeling like fall to winter already and it’s still August.  Took me until noon to warm up then drove three miles to town to fill a propane tank.  A seven gallon tank lasts about two months and it was getting close.

Back to work at Bryce Canyon on Saturday with a late start and although I helped close the visitor center at 8pm I left two hours early—mental health time.  Drove hurriedly to Paria View, threw a coat over my uniform, and barely caught the end of sunset and the rising of the full moon.  Pointed it out to the half dozen people there.  Even with ambient light from sunset my shots are grainy and out of focus.  Really need to use the tripod for clear shots.

Started and worked late the next day also with too many hours at the information desk.  After setting up my computer for the 9pm evening program I took a short walk to the rim hoping for some late sunset light on the hoodoos.  A sweet little 18” garter snake was in the path, so after taking its picture I encouraged it off the trail into the brush.  Was a small group of only 20 visitors for the program—usually 40-50 attend—and by the end my fingertips were cold at 55°.

Monday I worked the information desk in the late morning and presented the 2pm hoodoo geology talk.  Then spent the next three hours roving near Sunset Point which meant talking a lot about the closed Wall Street trail.  It is, understandably, one of the most popular hikes in the park.  Water damage was visible from the overlook.  Left two hours early.  Guess I should check to see how many hours of sick leave I have left to burn.

I am blown away by how many people don’t know how to read a map.  Even boomers seem to have lost the ability to read a paper map.  I am a mapaholic and love my paper road atlases.  I do use the phone app but mostly in an unfamiliar town to find my way around.  I pay attention to direction, North, South, East, and West.  That could be because I park the camper usually nose to the North—direction of the winter wind—and then get sunrise and set views.  When asked the standard “I/we just got here what should I/we do?” at the information desk I start with orientation to the park’s newspaper pointing out trail information and maps.  Some people can’t figure out which way to turn out the parking lot.  Sigh…

Tuesday was my Friday so I open the visitor center at 8am wearing a coat and gloves with temperature in the high 40s.  I know, I’m a weenie.  I am cold below 60°.  Saw at least half a dozen Mule deer near my house that morning including some bucks with large racks of antlers.

Best part about this schedule is spending the afternoon at Yovimpa Point, the southern end of the scenic road.  Sadly, there was a smoky haze diminishing the typical 100 mile view.  Yet I still presented at least three talks about the Grand Staircase geology including cultural history in the story.  Plus talk about fire ecology frequently, and answer a variety of other questions.  The wind was blowing wickedly from the south and I had to hold onto my flat-top hat so finally bagged it and as I left the Peregrine Falcon put in a brief appearance.  Stopped at Natural Bridge overlook for about an hour of roving which usually amounts to questions about how much further the road goes—eight miles—and is it worth it—of course.  Almost back to the office I saw three wild turkeys along the road.  Must be fall, everybody is eating like crazy.

Got home, changed clothes, and joined friends in town for dinner, delicious 1/2 rack of ribs made another two meals.  On the way home I stopped at Fairyland Point because I hadn’t been there all summer.

Wednesday was the National Park Service’s 105th birthday.  Also my first of four days off, down days to mostly recuperate from the work at Bryce Canyon.  I’m not sure if our park did anything special to celebrate.

I didn’t celebrate anything on my next days off either.  Been a real poop lately, not going anywhere much out of the park.  Sometimes, staying home feels best.